21 hours ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

 

 

Pfft, Jimmy is going to cost those working girls more than that if they want some.

I've always liked Rodney McLeod and felt he was underrated here, but I wouldn't bring him back at 33 years old to share a secondary with two other guys 32 and 30 years old.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this cover-8 scheme being associated with Desai, but it seems to put a lot of stress on the safety positions to 1) make the right reads immediately post-snap and  2) be able to cover ground quickly.  

1 minute ago, Sack that QB said:

Glad Mills isn’t coming back. If for nothing else, don’t have to listen to people convince themselves he’ll be just as good as CJGJ next year. Be patient and pursue higher upside guys. If they can get someone like Amos super cheap for depth in the mean time so be it. But they should not be spending 6m on average at that position.

Not too hard to convince, they had almost identical PFF grades from when they played safety, mills grade was slightly higher at safety his last year as an eagle, and don't have to worry about Mills getting a big head and running his mouth and doing stupid off field stuff.

Not sure who else is out there that's cheap?

May have to spend for mediocre or actually draft a safety 

3 minutes ago, paco said:

Pfft, Jimmy is going to cost those working girls more than that if they want some.

Yeah I was gonna say, how about offer him something he doesn’t already have

Just now, Utebird said:

Not too hard to convince, they had almost identical PFF grades from when they played safety, mills grade was slightly higher at safety his last year as an eagle, and don't have to worry about Mills getting a big head and running his mouth and doing stupid off field stuff.

Not sure who else is out there that's cheap?

May have to spend for mediocre or actually draft a safety 

Draft or trade like they did last year. I don’t think at this point they should just be settling on a mediocre safety. If they can get someone they like cheap like they did Penny, that’s fine, but if you sign someone for 5-7m then that’s starter’s money. That guy is going to be your starter. And I don’t think you want to lock yourself into a mediocre starter in March. Plenty of time to let the trade market and draft shake out.

There will be some safeties available for trade in May who aren’t available now once teams draft safeties and teams look to move on from vets.

Starting to think that Roseman didn't really have a backup plan to CJGJ leaving.

Right now, we have 12 picks in the 2024 draft. 

The best bet is trading 2024 draft capital right after the 2023 draft, when those picks will no longer be discounted. Look at safeties in the trade market like Julian Blackmon, Kevin Byard, etc. if we don't draft a S in the top 100 picks.

21 hours ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

 

 

 

5 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

Draft or trade like they did last year. I don’t think at this point they should just be settling on a mediocre safety. If they can get someone they like cheap like they did Penny, that’s fine, but if you sign someone for 5-7m then that’s starter’s money. That guy is going to be your starter. And I don’t think you want to lock yourself into a mediocre starter in March. Plenty of time to let the trade market and draft shake out.

There will be some safeties available for trade in May who aren’t available now once teams draft safeties and teams look to move on from vets.

Not to mention the second phase of free agency after guys get cut June 1st etc...

I'm surprised Mills got the money he did, reported 6 mil 1 year and I'm sure it's less guaranteed than that, but still seems like a lot for mills and I wouldn't have signed him for that.

We'll see what shakes out, I cant imagine Howie goes into week 1 with the current safeties on the roster.

16 minutes ago, Aerolithe_Lion said:

Yeah I was gonna say, how about offer him something he doesn’t already have

Jimmy G was working a porno actress for a time in SF; brothel workers would be a definite downgrade for him.  

FYI: if anyone wants an Athletic subscription and has never had one, there’s a deal right now $1 a month for a year.

Sounds like desai's scheme needs good safety's, you'd think in order to keep him happy and give him the best chance to succeed they'll give him either a decent FA safety or a draft pick like Jordan Battle/ Sydney Brown in the mid rounds

17 hours ago, NCiggles said:

Yes

 

 

 

 

EAGLES

 

Inside Eagles free agency and Howie Roseman’s handling of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Fletcher Cox, and Darius Slay

The Eagles saw risk to re-signing Gardner-Johnson. It took some cajoling to reach agreement with Slay. And Roseman isn't done yet trying to remake the roster.

Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson watches the last play of Super Bowl LVII against the Kansas City Chiefs at State Farm Stadium in February Glendale, AZ.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

by Jeff McLane

Updated on Mar 21, 2023, 5:00 a.m. ET

It would be foolish to make sweeping proclamations on the Eagles’ roster based on the first week of free agency considering how much Howie Roseman accomplished in the other 20-plus weeks before last season.

But since last Monday when the tampering period began, the general manager made decisions on 19 players who either stayed, left, or arrived. Before Tuesday’s agreement with former Bears linebacker Nicholas Morrow, Roseman had retained five free agents, signed three from other teams, allowed 10 to leave, and restructured and extended the contract of a veteran he nearly released.

The Eagles, restricted by salary-cap constraints and the expected mega-extension for quarterback Jalen Hurts, emphasized keeping franchise cornerstones over a younger group of players — homegrown or recently acquired — who in most cases signed modest deals.

» READ MORE: Eagles can win with an expensive Jalen Hurts, but free-agent frustration is their new norm

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Javon Hargrave was the lone departee to receive a top-of-the-market contract when the 49ers acquired him for four years at $84 million with $40 million guaranteed. The 30-year-old defensive tackle was the oldest of the Eagles free agents so far to sign elsewhere.

The nine others, based on their age by the season opener, ranged from 25 and 29, and collectively the group averaged 27.2 years old — three years younger than the average of the nine players the Eagles kept, restructured or added.

Returning Eagles free agents

Position

Age (by opener)

Known contract details

James Bradberry

CB

30

3 years, $38 million, $20 million guaranteed

Fletcher Cox

DT

32

1 year, $10 million

Brandon Graham

DE

35

1 year, $6 million

Jason Kelce

C

35

1 year, $14.25 million

Boston Scott

RB

27

1 year, $2 million, $1.08 million guaranteed

Returning Eagles restructured

Position

Age (by opener)

Known contract details

Darius Slay

CB

32

3 years, $42 million, $23 million guaranteed

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New Eagles signed in free agency

Position

Age (by opener)

Known contract details

Marcus Mariota

QB

29

1 year, $5 million

Rashaad Penny

RB

27

1 year, $1.35 million, $600,000 guaranteed

Greedy Williams

CB

25

1 year

Parting Eagles free agents

New team

Position

Age (by opener)

Known contract details

Andre Dillard

Titans

T

27

3 years, $29 million

T.J. Edwards

Bears

LB

27

3 years, $19.5 million, $12.025 million guaranteed

Marcus Epps

Raiders

S

27

2 years, $12 million, $10.34 million guaranteed

C.J. Gardner-Johnson

Lions

S

25

1 year, $6.5 million

Javon Hargrave

49ers

DT

30

4 years, $84 million, $40 million guaranteed

Gardner Minshew

Colts

QB

27

1 year, $3.5 million

Zach Pascal

Cardinals

WR

28

2 years

Miles Sanders

Panthers

RB

26

4 years, $25.4 million, $13 million guaranteed

Isaac Seumalo

Steelers

G

29

3 years, $24 million

Kyzir White

Cardinals

LB

27

2 years, $10 million, $6 million guaranteed

Unsigned Eagles unrestricted free agents

Position

Age (by opener)

Linval Joseph

DT

34

Brett Kern

P

37

Robert Quinn

DE

33

Ndamukong Suh

DT

36

It’s difficult to make a case against the Eagles bringing stalwarts Jason Kelce and Brandon Graham back. Both will be 35, but the former received only a slight pay increase after another All-Pro season at center — $14 million to $14.25 million — and the latter returned on a cost-effective one-year, $6 million deal despite recording 11 sacks in 2022.

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Kelce and Graham are standard bearers for the organization, culture setters on and off the field, and destined to retire as Eagles. Fletcher Cox has embodied some of the same traits — and may only ever play in midnight green — but did Roseman have to sign him for $10 million a year after giving him $14 million?

The Cox return and the collective return of aging starters — cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry are also staying — suggested that Roseman may have not completely learned from the mistakes of post-Super Bowl LII when he maintained the status quo in many instances in the hopes of capitalizing on a perceived short window for winning another title.

The offseason is far from over, of course. Roseman emphasized before free agency that the Eagles will attempt to balance the short term with the long term through the draft. Three of their six picks come in the first two rounds in April. They are projected to have a dozen selections in next year’s draft based on compensation they should receive after losing so many free agents.

The Eagles also have young players — especially defensive tackle Jordan Davis, offensive lineman Cam Jurgens and linebacker Nakobe Dean who enter their second seasons — who are expected to step into prominent vacancies.

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» READ MORE: Cam Jurgens is on guard with Jason Kelce returning as the Eagles’ center

Their development isn’t guaranteed. But if they’re to fall short of the expectations, one thing is certain: Roseman will exhaust his resources in finding replacements. See: Trading for C.J. Gardner-Johnson just before last season.

The 25-year-old safety played a vital role in the run to the Super Bowl. On the surface, the Eagles opting not to match the one-year, $6.5 million contract he signed with the Detroit Lions on Monday was surprising, especially when compared to the amount they gave the older, regressing Cox.

It’s an apples-to-oranges comparison, and when each individual case is taken into context, Roseman’s decision-making in free agency can be, at least, understood. But will his evaluations ultimately be proved correct? Only time will tell.

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Here’s more insight — based on reporting from NFL and team sources — on how several players either remained Eagles or left for new environs:

C.J. Gardner-Johnson

The Eagles offered Gardner-Johnson a multiyear deal early in free agency. He sought more than they were offering. The team eventually moved on and directed their attention to re-signing Bradberry (three years, $38 million, $20 million guaranteed) and restructuring Slay’s existing deal.

Gardner-Johnson’s market value was nowhere near what he and many outside observers predicted. Jessie Bates got top dollar at $16 million a year for four years — $13 million if you only count the guaranteed figure — but the next group of free-agent safeties got significantly less.

On paper, Gardner-Johnson has obvious appeal. Despite moving to safety after the Eagles traded for the former Saints slot cornerback, he tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with six even though he missed five games, and brought a physicality to the middle of Jonathan Gannon’s defense.

He was occasionally prone to mental errors or missed tackles, but his instincts and athleticism offset some of the on-field negatives. Off the field, Gardner-Johnson created some initial friction, but Eagles leaders and internal support got him to buy into the program in a contract year.

But the team viewed him as a risk if he signed a multiyear deal — the risk being that Gardner-Johnson could be affected by the millions of dollars he was now being paid.

That doesn’t mean it would have happened. But the Saints gave Gardner-Johnson away for essentially only a fifth-round pick for some of those same reasons and now the Florida product is with his third team in three seasons.

» READ MORE: ‘Can’t stand this heat, get out of my way’: Trash-talking C.J. Gardner-Johnson remade himself with the Eagles

He was liked by many within the Eagles, but Gardner-Johnson required extra care. His since-deleted tweets criticizing Gannon or claiming disrespect during the free-agency process only hinted at the ways in which he tested his first two teams.

Gardner-Johnson’s representative tweeted that the Eagles offered a backloaded three-year, $24 million contract, with $17 million coming in the last year.

True or not, that is generally not how Roseman structures his deals and it seems unlikely that they would make an offer with a per-year guaranteed number far below what he ultimately got with a one-year, prove-it deal.

Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson deflects the football past Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown during the second quarter in 2022 in Detroit.YONG KIM / Staff Photographer

The Eagles now find themselves without both starting safeties from last season after Marcus Epps signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. Reed Blankenship and K’Von Wallace are the only returnees at the position from the 53-man roster, and have a total of just 11 career starts. The Eagles addressed safety by agreeing to terms with low-cost free agent Justin Evans.

On Roseman’s value chart, safety is near the bottom. But his willingness to look outside the box has offered him alternative solutions. Case in point: acquiring Gardner-Johnson just seven months ago.

» READ MORE: Assessing the Eagles’ options at the safety position after C.J. Gardner-Johnson departs in free agency

Fletcher Cox

Hargrave’s exit set in motion Cox’s return, but the 32-year-old had an offer on the table from the New York Jets that would have paid him more than the Eagles’ take-it-or-leave proposal.

A year ago, he got much closer to leaving. Disgruntled by Gannon’s new scheme, Cox expressed his frustration publicly and the Eagles spoke with the Pittsburgh Steelers about a possible exchange before the trade deadline.

He performed better down the stretch, but he was released when the new league began, only to re-sign a day later. Cox was a more loyal soldier upon his return, took younger players like Davis and Milton Williams under his wing, and his seven sacks were his most in four seasons.

Did his play warrant the $14 million expenditure? Probably not. He drifted some in the second half of the regular season, but he became "Playoff Fletch” in the first two games of the postseason, if not the Super Bowl when he logged too many snaps.

Eagles defensive tackles Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave, right.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

 

Losing both starting defensive tackles would have been a tough pill to swallow, but if Davis and/or Williams had shown enough as reserves, Roseman might have been more comfortable allowing both Hargrave and Cox to walk.

 

The Eagles need to see greater return on their first- and third-round investments. Williams flashed at times late last season, and Davis showed before his midseason ankle injury that he could clog the middle as a run-stopping nose tackle. But both enter next season as pass-rushing question marks.

 

The Eagles return their top three edge rushers — Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, and Graham — but Roseman is likely not done addressing the interior pass rush.

 

» READ MORE: Eagles analysis: Jordan Davis and the run defense

 

Darius Slay

 

The Pro Bowl cornerback’s serpentine route back to Philadelphia didn’t exactly mirror that of Cox a year ago, but Slay was nearly an ex-Eagle when he initially balked at the front office’s request for a restructure and wanted to explore his options elsewhere.

 

His agent was granted permission to shop his 32-year-old client, but the market wasn’t exactly receptive considering his age. Unable to find a suitable partner, the Eagles were set to release him on Wednesday.

 

The Eagles’ dealings with Gardner-Johnson, Bradberry, and Slay didn’t directly affect how they approached each player, but there was crossover in terms of how much they could afford if pressed to keep one or two over the other(s).

 

» READ MORE: How All-Pro CB James Bradberry decided the Eagles were the right fit — and against ‘more lucrative’ offers

 

Moving on from Gardner-Johnson did factor into delaying Slay’s release, but the Eagles would have never reconsidered if he wasn’t open to a reworked deal. Behind the scenes, it took some cajoling to get him to understand why they were essentially asking him to take what looked like less money.

 

But in return for helping them lower his $26 million cap number this season, the Eagles added guarantees and another year to his contract. Slay’s two-year extension is worth a total of $42 million, with $23 million guaranteed.

 

 

 

The $23 million will come in the first two years and is fully guaranteed, which is slightly more than what Bradberry will receive over the same amount of time. Their per-year averages of $14 million and $12.7 million place them near the bottom of the top-third of starting NFL corners, but there is some question as to their relative success last season.

 

Was it Slay’s and Bradberry’s coverage that helped the Eagles record a franchise-high 70 sacks, or did they benefit more from the pass rush? The Super Bowl, when the rush was nonexistent and the corners had notable struggles, would suggest it was the latter.

 

» READ MORE: Darius Slay: ‘Of course I want an extension with the Eagles. I love the Eagles.’

 

But the rest of the Eagles’ offseason will provide a clearer picture of how Roseman envisions the futures of the veterans he retained. Free agency was about the now. The draft will be about the later.

 

Published March 21, 2023

Jeff McLane

 

 

I objectively report and write about the Eagles.

• 
   

 

SELECT YOUR STEAKS

NO THANKS

20 minutes ago, RememberTheKoy said:

Starting to think that Roseman didn't really have a backup plan to CJGJ leaving.

How is this consistent with Howie's past performance? 

34 minutes ago, paco said:

Pfft, Jimmy is going to cost those working girls more than that if they want some.

He's operating as a jigolo on the side.   Tom Brady had TB12 and Jimmy G has JG12"

26 minutes ago, RLC said:

Right now, we have 12 picks in the 2024 draft. 

The best bet is trading 2024 draft capital right after the 2023 draft, when those picks will no longer be discounted. Look at safeties in the trade market like Julian Blackmon, Kevin Byard, etc. if we don't draft a S in the top 100 picks.

Jeremy Chinn and Darnell Savage would be two guys that are potential trades based on their current deals.

27 minutes ago, RLC said:

Right now, we have 12 picks in the 2024 draft. 

The best bet is trading 2024 draft capital right after the 2023 draft, when those picks will no longer be discounted. Look at safeties in the trade market like Julian Blackmon, Kevin Byard, etc. if we don't draft a S in the top 100 picks.

No way we trade for Byard's existing contract

Just now, rrfierce said:

Sounds like desai's scheme needs good safety's, you'd think in order to keep him happy and give him the best chance to succeed they'll give him either a decent FA safety or an early draft pick like Jordan Battle in R3

Yup sounds like it.

I said this late last night and I've said it in the past and I feel like I need to shout it from the rooftops.

In 2017 the eagles had the most money in the league allocated to safety and the least amount of money allocated to CB and well they won the super bowl.

Back then in 17 Howie had said that the analytics supported spending less on CB.

For whatever reason since then the eagles have kind of flipped by sending a lot on Corner and not a lot on safety.

Not sure if the analytics changed or what?

For me it would make sense to spend more on safety especially if those safeties can be multiple as a safety can do a lot more for a defense than a corner who basically lines up on one side of the field and covers a WR all game.

Safeties are more involved in run game and if one has a safety that can line up in nickel and cover WRs or line up over TEs that's invaluable, or at least to me more valuable than a corner in a passing league that handcuffs corners.

As you say seems Desai's defense is dependent on good safety play so will be interesting to see if Howie puts a bit more value on safety or not?

 

Thanks NCIggles now I have arthritis from scrolling

Need to get this to a new page. Way to go NCiggles lol

I think the new reality of the nfl is that there are a lot of 1-yr deals that don't turn into long term relationships. As such obsessing on the age of the player is misguided and it really is about who can help the most in the coming season

5 hours ago, TorontoEagle said:

Lane isn’t a unicorn. He was drafted 4th overall and certainly has had an excellent career. It’s what you expect to get out of a 4th overall tackle. 
 

Mailata is a unicorn because there’s nobody else with his story. From never playing the game at all, to being taken in the draft and coached up from scratch into a stud, it’s unheard of.

Anyone who is a "franchise” player at his position is a unicorn. We have unicorns at both tackles, Center, and probably at QB. 

4 hours ago, ToastJenkins said:

Wright is my dude

Does Wright have the nimbleness and requisite athleticism to be a Stoutland style Right Tackle?

 

17 minutes ago, Utebird said:

Yup sounds like it.

I said this late last night and I've said it in the past and I feel like I need to shout it from the rooftops.

In 2017 the eagles had the most money in the league allocated to safety and the least amount of money allocated to CB and well they won the super bowl.

Back then in 17 Howie had said that the analytics supported spending less on CB.

For whatever reason since then the eagles have kind of flipped by sending a lot on Corner and not a lot on safety.

Not sure if the analytics changed or what?

For me it would make sense to spend more on safety especially if those safeties can be multiple as a safety can do a lot more for a defense than a corner who basically lines up on one side of the field and covers a WR all game.

Safeties are more involved in run game and if one has a safety that can line up in nickel and cover WRs or line up over TEs that's invaluable, or at least to me more valuable than a corner in a passing league that handcuffs corners.

As you say seems Desai's defense is dependent on good safety play so will be interesting to see if Howie puts a bit more value on safety or not?

 

the 2017 roster had jenkins and it didnt stop the pats from scoring 33 points, the reason why we won the sb was because we have more weapons on offense.